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I remember one moment when the world, at least my world, rested in perfect harmony. This wasn’t my only such moment, but it was the earliest I remember of experiencing that sweet contentment that occurs when everything is in its place. When my sister and I were little, our parents played piano. They had a tiny band, playing for weekly square dances at the village dance hall on the lake. Usually they were joined by a saxophone player and a drummer, sometimes a fiddler, sometimes a banjo player. But the piano was the musical anchor, necessary for every set of three square dances followed by three ballroom dances. The work was too demanding physically for one pianist; our parents took turns.

For the past decade, I have reviewed the text of the annual State of the Commonwealth (SOTC) speeches by three governors. I look carefully for use of the word “elderly” or “seniors” to see if there are any significant policy statements about our growing elderly population. Between 2010 and 2020, the Massachusetts population 60+ is projected to grow from 1.27 million to 1.63 million, a 31-percent increase of 359,845 elders. One-quarter of all of the households in Massachusetts includes at least one person aged 65 and over. The population of people aged 65 and over in Massachusetts, as a percentage of total state population, will jump 50 percent between 2010 and 2030, from 14 percent of the population, to 21 percent of the population.

On Dec. 14 2015, elder rights groups, including Mass Home Care, testified at an MBTA hearing in Boston against a plan to cut The RIDE services for the elderly and disabled. For these riders, transportation is the key service that connects them to all the other services in the community: doctors’ offices, clinics, professional services, lawyers, grocery stores, basic shopping, etc. Transportation is the lifeline service in the community.

As we age, our circulation system can lose efficiency, causing a variety of problematic conditions. One such problem is that of undesired clots in the legs. Although clotting is an important safeguard from injury, an unexpected clot can cause pain and swelling and can often be the precursor to a more serious health condition.

It has occurred to me that novels like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, movies made from them, and other such period dramas, are popular partly because they depict a society where people were expected to be polite.

Doctors call it “the waiting room.” That is what I’m doing. I have a sore throat. I arrived on time for my appointment. I checked in. I paid my co-pay. And now I am waiting. I have been told, “It will be a few minutes.” Uh, oh. “It will be a few minutes” is doctor-office code for “I hope you brought a snack and you’re starting to read a Victorian novel, because we are Backed Up.”

Region –If you’re a smoker, quitting is the most important step you can take to protect your health, decreasing the risk of lung disease, cancer, and even early death. If you want to quit and tried in the past, don’t give up. It often takes several tries before you can quit for good. However, with planning and support, you can become tobacco-free.

If you think you’re seeing more elderly people at the grocery store, the bank, and the movies—you are. In the period 2010 to 2030, the 65+ population in Massachusetts will increase by approximately 60 percent --while the under 65 population will decrease by approximately 4.5 percent. In the first two decades of this century, the commonwealth will add around 585,000 more people over the age of 65.

For much of our lives we go about our business relatively unconcerned with our circulatory systems. However, due to a variety of causes, varicose veins can crop up causing both cosmetic and functional problems. Once a patient notices these troublesome veins it is a wise idea to get a professional assessment. Many times patient’s primary care provider will refer them to a phlebologist specialist.

A friend of mine recently took himself to the emergency room of a local hospital. He is a 70-year-old diabetic, and his temperature was 103 degrees. He has learned to react quickly to medical problems out of fear of his diabetes complications.